-The best is to rub them with lime juice or a similar acid such as vinegar. Next time, use rubber gloves, butter your hands or spray them with liquid shortening and use greater care when touching the chiles, not touching the placenta, seeds or veins.

-Are ornamental varieties of chiles poisonous?

-There are absolutely no varieties of peppers that are poisonous; all capsicum species are edible. Some of the ornamental varieties just don't taste very good, while others are extremely hot or pungent, which may lead to this misconception; however, there is an ornamental plant called a False Jerusalem Cherry, botanical name, Solanum Capsicastrum, which is poisonous and not intended for consumption. It is not a chile plant, only a relative.